Archive for the ‘features’ Category

04
Jul

Apple is the first place in the video

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In 2008, Apple became the first distributor of music in the United States, before the giant Wal-Mart and Amazon. The group of Cupertino is preparing to renew the feat in the film industry. According to research firm Screen Digest, Apple became the number one video on demand pay to the United States in 2014, before the two top cable operators in the country, Comcast and Time Warner Cable.

This will be overtaken by Apple at the end of this year. Apple is expected to generate $ 281 million in sales by selling movies online this year against 160 million in revenue for the VOD service from Time Warner Cable. The firm is expected to apple store almost 35 million transactions in 2010 against 30.5 million for the second U.S. cable operator. Still Number One, Comcast will make a turnover of 380 million dollars with 88 million transactions."While the pay-TV players offer to lease the works in DOS, Apple sells movies. The pricing is more beneficial to Apple, "said Dan Cryan, responsible Broadband Media at Screen Digest.

In 2014, the reverse hierarchy: Apple should be leading with 470 million dollars in revenue for 56 million transactions, when Comcast will reach 400 million dollars in sales with 108 million records of tenancy, says Screen Digest. At that time, Apple will control 32% of video market demand pay.

Google TV has a playing card

This leadership position gives Apple the opportunity to influence the price of selling movies for download, as the U.S. group has done in music.Another advantage is the unit sales reported more income to the beneficiaries that the subscription models or lease and therefore the iTunes Store a valuable partner for the studios, which multiply the simultaneous releases in theaters and on video.

If the model for the iTunes Store gives a good lead time to Apple in VOD, it is not certain that the firm with apple foreclosing the movie as it did for digital music. "There was an effect on iPod music because of the integration platform for downloading with the terminal was better, because the iPod allowed to make music where consumers want to have it ie mobility. It is not certain that the iPad plays that role for the film, Dan Cryan analysis. Terminals other than the PC are key to getting consumers to pay for entertainment.But for video, this advantage is less pronounced for the iPad for a TV. This is Google, with its Google TV decoder, which brings Web video into television, has a playing card. "Indeed, the Internet group has not discussed a possible blocking of illegal content which could online access through Google TV. This vagueness could benefit from piracy: "iTunes is selling on average 30 songs per iPod sold, the rest of the music is not purchased it is copied from CD or downloaded illegally. There could have the same effect on Google TV. The party has just begun in the video, "said Dan Cryan.

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27
Jun

Sarkozy has "nothing to blame" Woerth

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Nicolas Sarkozy delivering a public and unambiguous support his Minister of Labour. On Saturday, the president said he had "absolutely nothing wrong with Eric Woerth. "You can not blame him, it is an excellent minister," it was said at the Elysee. The previous evening, Eric Woerth had assured that he had "given no instructions to the tax authorities of any nature whatsoever not to engage in transactions of fiscal control in the case Bettencourt, suspected of tax evasion.

Three new revelations raise yet the question of the role of authorities in the case Bettencourt they were aware of alleged tax evasion of billionaire? If yes, what services were? Have they closed their eyes?

According to the weekly Marianne, the court was aware since 2008 of the possible tax evasion billionaire but failed to alert the tax authorities and has not triggered the investigation into the case. In support of these assertions, Marianne published in its Saturday edition of extracts from documents in the preliminary inquiry by the prosecutor in Nanterre, on the complaint of the daughter of Liliane Bettencourt cons photographer François-Marie Banier.

One of these pieces is a letter from François-Marie Banier to billionaire, dated May 19, 2005, where the artist makes reference to Arros Island, Seychelles. An island that he told him he "has to buy.But the tax on capital 2007 Lilliane Bettencourt, including Marianne also publishes an extract, made no mention of this island. But "the judiciary chose to close his eyes," says the weekly, indicating that the prosecution was under the legal obligation on the basis of these elements, "seize the treasury that it is launching an investigation" .

"Nothing has been hidden"

Contradicting these findings, the prosecutor Philippe Courroye said Friday that "tax administration was warned Jan. 9, 2009 that this issue was likely to highlight elements of tax evasion." "The administration is aware of all the evidence.Nothing has been overlooked, "said the prosecutor, adding that the prosecution could not decide alone to grab a result of tax evasion.

According to the website bakchich.info, Bercy could anyway not ignore the "chow" tax between the photographer and heiress. Indeed, says the site, the department has recovered in 2008 a list of 500 French tax evaders in Liechtenstein, including Francois-Marie Banier. The case of the latter was even transferred, according Bribe, to the National Audit tax situations (DNVSF), responsible for the peel. Two years later, there would always be.

A tax adjustment for Francois-Marie Banier

Labour Minister, Eric Woerth, has responded to this information have launched Friday by announcing in 2009, when he was Minister of Budget, fiscal control of the artist Francois-Marie Banier."There was a notice of recovery, accepted and resolved," said his lawyer Temime. "It is unrelated assets abroad or with the proceedings" on donations made by Ms. Bettencourt Francois-Marie Banier.

Asked on Friday on France Inter, Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said she was "very surprised" that the billionaire is not the subject of tax examinations regularly every three or four years, "as in the case for all very large estates.

On Saturday, the modem has meanwhile said it was "very difficult to drive an issue like pensions while being the subject of everyday revelations." Francois Bayrou who was speaking at a press briefing in the House, insisted: 'The French clearly see that there is a concern.There is a weakening of the government and all those who, in his name, driving a number of reforms. "

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14
Jun

The CAC40 index returns in excess of 3600 points

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While experts from the European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) are in Athens to verify accounts of the Greek state and the status of the austerity plan, the Paris stock exchange continues the momentum of last week, where the CAC 40 had returned upward, three consecutive sessions, breaking a cycle initiated since April 16 last and prevented systematically aligning more than two consecutive increases. The CAC 40 in advance of 0.79% to 3583 points at the opening and exceeds the threshold of 3600 points. Although nothing is played, far from it. But in recent days, the indices seem more determined to resume the upward path. Trading volumes, including the Paris Bourse, were provided over the last week. The CAC 40 climbed beyond 3,600 points, a course that is almost a record a month.At midday, the index feature of the Paris Stock Exchange gained 1.46% to end at 3607.30 points.

On other markets in Europe, the trend is upward. In London, the Footsie took almost 1% to 5213 points this morning and gained further 0.64% to 5196.59 points shortly after noon. In Frankfurt, the Dax clinching the outset more than 1%, and still earning 1.23% to 6122.17 points in mid-day.

On Friday, the CAC 40 gained just over 1% to just over 3555 points. On Wall Street, the Nasdaq has also allowed U.S. markets finished the week on a positive note after economic indicators, however, mixed.

After a particularly bloody month of May for all equity markets, investors believe, however, that European markets are undervalued.This could naturally incite bargain hunting and so restoring the energy markets.

The start of the week is very quiet with a single statistic, Europe, the industrial production of the Euro Area in April. The agenda will be fleshed out, however, more tomorrow, with a range of indicators on the U.S. real estate, consumption and inflation. The speech of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke on Wednesday, will also be very influential.

On the foreign exchange market, the strengthening of the euro, long stuck in the $ 1.21, was confirmed this morning – it is trading at 1.2183 dollars against 1.2077 on Friday. The euro is close to $ 1.22 in the wake of the stock market, and good resolutions are shown in deficits on both sides of the Rhine, pending the meeting between Merkel and Sarkozy, this evening after missed appointments Monday .

Values follow

Club Med

The title is featured on Monday, clinching 7.54% to 13.55 euros. Chinese Fosun Group has acquired 7.1% stake in Club Med, where he has a director.

This is the beginning of the conquest of the Chinese market for Club Med. A promising market as the tourism industry in China is driven by a double-digit growth for ten years. The two companies also announce the signing of a strategic partnership agreement in the field of construction and operation of 'quality resorts'haut Guaranteed pay day loans. Friday, closing, Club Med's share jumped from 9.4% to 12.6 euros on the publication of a half-year net profit of 3 million Euros.

Societe Generale

The action jumps from 3.59% to 34.93 euros.Crédit du Nord, a subsidiary of Societe Generale, and BPCE entered into exclusive negotiations for the acquisition by Crédit du Nord, Société Marseillaise de Credit a little over 870 million euros. An operation that was in the pipes for several weeks and was formalized this morning before the opening of the Parisian market. The amount of the transaction is exactly 872 million euros, net dividend for 2009 (for the seller). The CMS was acquired, with other regional banks to HSBC by BPCE in 2008. It has 144 branches and 200,000 customers in southern France. With this transaction, Credit du Nord confirms its strategy of development in the banking system nearby.

Axa

The insurer (3.13% to 13.52 euros) confirmed the sale of part of its life insurance business in the United Kingdom.The buyer, Resolution Group, is prepared to pay 3.3 billion euros to get their hands on this activity. Axa will keep activities damage, life insurance and individual savings. The transaction currently under discussion provides for a lump sum sales of 2.75 Billion Pounds (about 3.3 billion euros). The insurer, however, remember that there is no certainty that current discussions lead to an agreement, note analysts at BNP Paribas.

Renault

Automaker (2.56% to 31.40 euros) should benefit from the information supplied on the weekend by its Russian partner Avtovaz plans to return to the green this year after heavy losses in 2009.The first constructor Russian head out of the water, enjoying the scrappage.

Veolia

The subsidiary of Veolia Water Environment (+1.10% at 21.16 euros) announces the signing of an agreement for the resumption of certain activities of United Utilities Group in Europe. Veolia Water would control Sofiyska Voda company in charge of utilities and water treatment in the city of Sofia, Bulgaria, serving 1.3 million inhabitants, of which Veolia Water would own 58%.

TF1

TF1 wins 1.96% to 12.21 euros. The subsidiary of the Bouygues group (1.23% to 35.770 euros) recorded Friday night at the game of the World Cup Soccer, France, Uruguay, its best audience of 2010. Viewers were 15 million to their desks on Friday night and even 18 million over the end of the meeting."This is the best audience of the Year for TF1 and the 15th best audience for a football game since the inception of Médiamat-Médiamétrie," insists the chain.

LVMH

LVMH gleaning 0.09% to 91.99 euros. Bank of America Merrill Lynch lowered its recommendation on the luxury group and its parent company, Christian Dior (0.63% to 83.23 euros).

12
Jun

Peugeot: more than 6,000 employees of layoffs

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Following the violent hailstorm that hit the department of Doubs, production plant in Sochaux suspended since Wednesday 19 hours.

Production was halted at least until Monday on the assembly line at the Peugeot factory at Sochaux, suffered Wednesday night by a violent hailstorm which caused some damage, said Thursday Jean-Philippe Jombart the site director. No vehicle out of the factory that produces daily in 1600.

"For sure until Monday at least the production is stopped but is still too early to be sure that the recovery will take place Monday," he said Thursday afternoon during a press conference."We take the time needed to rehabilitate the roofs which have suffered from weather and ensure safety of employees," he added.

About 3,500 cars will not be built

First production of PSA Peugeot Citroën group and the cradle, the plant employs 12 Sochaux cash advances pay day loan.000 employees divided into three sectors: manufacturing, development and experimentation. Of the 12,000 employees of the factory employees 6000-7000 employees on the production lines are laid off. About 3,500 cars will not be built.

"That's two and a half days to stop manufacturing it is important to us," he went on stating that the shortfall was not encrypted yet.

Jean-Philippe Jombart said that it was mainly the press shop, which had been damaged.Regarding the parking of cars, "the vast majority of new vehicles was protected by tarpaulins anti-hail, some vehicles were hit, but has not quantified the damage," said Jean-Philippe Jombart.

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10
Jun

Fears about the future of BP

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Very bad trading day Wednesday for the title again BP. In London, the stock fell 4.24% to 391.55 pence. On Wall Street, the same day, the stock has tumbled 15% to just 29 plsu dollars.Pour many observers, the cost of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is likely to jeopardize the very existence BP. "The action suffers now fears the very future of BP. It is no longer just a noise reduction of the dividend. Now it's survivability in question, "said Jon Najarian, founder of the news website optionMonster.com.

At the London Stock Exchange, the fears were mostly related to the fact that BP would eventually suspend payment of its dividend. "We are resigned to the fact that there may be a suspension of the dividend," said Tony Shepard, an analyst at Charles Stanley, quoted by Reuters.

Last Friday, however, BP has reaffirmed its intention to announce to its shareholders on July 27 the amount of its interim dividend by way of the second quarter. Dividends paid by the group representing some 10.5 billion dollars (8.7 billion euros) per year.

Yet another bad news for the oil group that is not due to his inability to pay, but the fact that the U.S. authorities there are not favorable. "It does me no problem that BP complies with its legal obligations (to its shareholders, Ed), but I want them to know they have a moral and legal obligations here in the Gulf, warned Tuesday Barack Obama.

The U.S. authorities have also sent an ultimatum to compel them to BP by unveiling its plans to 72 hours to stop the leak.

"BP must state its plans for its parallel initiatives ongoing and alternative oil recovery, including establishing a timetable within 72 hours after receipt of this letter," says the letter from the admiral-cons Coastguard James Watson chief operating officer of BP, Doug Suttles, and dated Tuesday.

With the installation of a funnel, BP has accelerated since last week the recovery of oil leaking from the wells to 1,500 meters below the surface of the water for more than seven weeks. But the water continues to move towards the U.S. coast and crude oil continues to flow.

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07
Jun

Euro: Angela Merkel shook hands with Sarkozy

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On the fluctuating barometer of Franco-German relations, the weather is stormy. Received on Monday in Berlin with Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy will seek to close ranks with Chancellor suspected of wanting to play alone against the economic and monetary instability in the European Union.

With the approach of the European Council of 16 June and the G8 in Toronto, a week later, it becomes urgent for Nicolas Sarkozy to give the violins with Angela Merkel. Both are broadly on the same line in regulation, the outlawing of the speculators and the taxation of banks.A good starting point for the "couple" to meet, after weeks of tension related to the crisis in the euro area.

Also measured, on both sides of the Rhine, from internal politics that goes into the respective positions of President and Chancellor, both the penalty on the home front.

Between the two partners, the near collapse of Greece and its impact on the single currency have accumulated ulterior motives. The support mechanism 750 billion for the country in great financial difficulty should be finalized today by the finance ministers of the euro area, after having obtained a great struggle, the green light for German MPs.

Bone of contention

But Berlin is still reluctant to make a joint guarantee the completeness of money lent and insists that every country is accountable to the tune of the funds it allocates, and its conditions.French side, it also criticizes the Chancellor to have weighed 70 billion cost of the rescue of Greece was slow to react.

Two other cases have come to complicate the climate. Paris Berlin accused of having acted without consultation last month by banning until March 2011 the naked short selling to a technique that allows the sale of securities without holding on bonds and credit derivatives (CDS ) shareholders. Christine Lagarde has adopted a conciliatory tone, saying yesterday that Paris and Berlin agreed on the principle of the sales ban "naked" But the Minister of Economy has particularly stressed the need to "act together" , how to deplore once again the initiative of Germany alone.

The other bone of contention concerns the "mix" of austerity and European supervision of budgets, proposed by Berlin.Paris is hostile even if Nicolas Sarkozy has taken a step in this direction by proposing a constitutional reform on reducing deficits. For on the merits, the head of the state knows it can not afford to widen the gap with the Chancellor and his "stability culture". This is now the maintenance of optimal grade awarded to the "enterprise France" by the specialized agencies.

26
Apr

The clouds are gathering over Goldman Sachs

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The case Goldman Sachs has taken the weekend of 24 and 25 April, a new political era with the publication by the U.S. Senate emails embarrassing for the bank, accused of having enriched in 2007 by betting on reduction of financial products that the bank had itself sometimes sold to its customers.

Larry Summers, the Obama economic adviser, declined Sunday to comment on the case Goldman Sachs, except to state: "This highlights what is at the heart of the president's vision (in the reform of finance) : the importance of transparency. "

Shocked that unpacking before the opening of public hearings Monday in Congress, Goldman Sachs categorically denies having violated the law.It maintains its role as an intermediary to serve institutional clients with differing views on the trend of the real estate market forced her to speculate for a fall on some securities to cover its risks also taken on other positions.

If they prove nothing of fraudulent e-mails made public Saturday by the Senate show that the bank on Wall Street reveled during the crisis, earn so much money, thanks to its derivatives betting on the fall of subprime housing market, while its own customers – including European banks – in poorer inverse operations.

"We will make a big pile of money!"

In July 2007, David Viniar, chief financial officer of Goldman Sachs, learning that the bank had already won $ 51 million by betting on falling subprime reacted in an email: "It gives an idea of what might happen to those who not a big short position in low fee pay day loans. "

In October 2007, while the housing market plunge, a trader from the bank sent an email to his colleague: "It seems we will make a big pile of money!" The answer: "Yes, we are well positioned … In 2007, the bank led by Lloyd Blankfein has achieved record profits of 11.6 billion dollars that enabled him to pocket a bonus record of $ 67.9 million.During the same period, rival banks, including Morgan Stanley, suffered massive devaluation of their assets.

On Monday, Lloyd Blankfein and six of his colleagues were summoned to explain himself before the Senate subcommittee charged with investigating the financial crisis. Among them, Fabrice Tourre, a French 31 years, accused of fraud by the SEC, the gendarme of the U.S. financial markets. There is theoretically no link between the two surveys. But they are on the same subject: conflicts of interest of Goldman Sachs derivatives markets of mortgages.An email signed by Fabrice Tourre in 2007 shows his pessimism about the products he elaborated: "This market is completely dead and the poor little subprime borrowers will not be long." Fabrice Tourre will even be compared to Frankenstein for creating products that will turn against their owners, by precipitating the collapse of the U.S. housing bubble and the global financial crisis.

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23
Apr

Greeks protest against new austerity measures

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While the markets were panicking on Thursday, Greece, she was idling. The whole public was mobilized for the fourth time since the beginning of the year against the austerity measures imposed by the Papandreou government to reduce the deficit. Boats and ferries were nailed to the port of Piraeus, judicial officials absent, schools closed and shows postponed and actors to doctors, the National Movement has won the Employee of the private sector such as tourism, some of which blocked access luxury hotels in the capital.

Acropolis closed

Many tourists found themselves before an Acropolis closed to the public as most national museums and historical sites. In the streets of Athens, the mobilization was less important. "We've had enough of disaster scenarios," says Emilio, a tax inspector."We see the men of the IMF over the reins every week, we announced that the borrowing rates explode and he'll have to tighten their belts still no teletrack payday loan. How far do we go? Today, people are angry, but they are afraid to go down the street, "he says. The government is trying to appear confident and delaying the application for EU funding, but he struggles to reassure the public. According to Petros Leantros, Institute of Work, "state failure" is no longer a taboo word. "Greece will have to suffer the actions of the IMF because it is unable to pay 13 billion euros per year (5% of GDP) to repay the loan rate debt," stresses said.Meanwhile, Greek authorities will therefore have to contain the anger of the street while trying to persuade European partners and markets their ability to clean up the country's economy.

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10
Apr

ACC ends above 4050 points

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After closing in the red Thursday, almost all the CAC 40 woke up green this Friday at 4022.66 points, excited by the great increase of Wall Street. And closed, its momentum, to 4050.54 points, up 1.81%, exceeding its peak.

The London Stock Exchange and Frankfurt have also recovered well in the wake of Wall Street, buoyed by an upturn in consumer spending … The London FTSE 100 closed up 1.02% to 5770.98 points. The German Dax closed up 1.26% to 6249.70 points.

Thursday evening, the CAC 40 lost 1.20%. After rising almost continuously since February. The index had been weakened by fears of renewed solvency of Greece.

The lifeline of the ECB

Fears eased by the reassuring words of Jean-Claude Trichet, called "lifeline" by the Greek press.The President of the European Central Bank, rejected any risk of contagion to other countries, like Italy. He also assured that a default of Greece was "beyond question". In fact, the President of the European Union, Herman Van Rompuy, promised Friday that the Europeans are "ready to intervene if the Greeks call" and implement a plan of assistance involving the IMF, which Greece seems to want to avoid. French President Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed: the European Union is ready to activate its plan "at any time" bad credit payday advance.

These incentives have led to a rebound of the euro against the dollar above $ 1.34 this morning, then at 1.3385 dollars this afternoon. Volatility remains a must.After being stretched to 7.5%, the yield on loans to 10 year-old Greek, too, calmed a time, returning this morning to 7.2%. It said Thursday that Athens be able to reduce its deficit by 40% YoY in the first quarter.

The Greek situation remains fragile. The rating agency Fitch has lowered a few minutes from the end of Paris, noted the long-term debt of Greece, from BBB + to BBB-. This could well lead Greece to seek EU aid promised on March 25 …

According to strategists at BNP Paribas, investors await the issuance of treasury bills by Greece on Tuesday to assess the ability of countries to find core funding.Markets await the second season launch of results from U.S. companies, with Alcoa on Monday.

Side values, in Paris, the banks have been resilient, despite their exposure to Greece, to the tune of fifty billion euros. This does not raise "no particular concern, said Friday the governor of the Bank of France Christian Noyer, even if the French regulators monitor" closely "the situation.

The rising price of rubber has instead penalized cars, Michelin (-0.08%) signing the only declines the CAC 40.

06
Apr

Australia is still its rates

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Riding the wave of recovery in China, Australia offered a further rise in borrowing costs to prevent a resurgence of inflation. The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) raised on Tuesday, its main interest rate a quarter point to 4.25%. This is the fifth increase since October. The higher rate, which surprised the market did bounce the Australian dollar to 0.92 U.S. dollar. The Sydney Stock Exchange reached its highest eighteen months of sitting.

Heavily dependent on commodities, the Australian economy is recovering faster than other OECD economies, thanks to strong demand from Asia, notably China faxless cash advance. In 2009, growth was 3%, while the unemployment rate remained at 5.3% of the workforce. But since the beginning of the year, inflation topped 2%.

The stimulus Chinese 450 billion euros to full advantage to Australian orders, even if the exchange rate weighs on exports. Experts expect interest rates between 5% and 5.25% at the end of the year, which explains the attraction for the Australian currency.